Clinical Question:
Is saw palmetto effective for the treatment of patient with Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia?
Bottom Line:
Saw palmetto did not improve symptoms or objective measures of benign
prostatic hyperplasia.
Reference:
Saw palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia.Bent S, Kane C, Shinohara K,
Neuhaus J, Hudes ES, Goldberg H, Avins AL.N Engl J Med. 2006 Feb
9;354(6):632-4.
Study Design:
Randomized Controlled Trial (double blind)
Synopsis:
Saw palmetto is used by over 2 million men in the United States for the
treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and is commonly recommended as an
alternative to drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In this
double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 225 men over the age of 49 years
who had moderate-to-severe symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia to one
year of treatment with saw palmetto extract (160 mg twice a day) or placebo.
The primary outcome measures were changes in the scores on the American
Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) and the maximal urinary flow
rate. Secondary outcome measures included changes in prostate size, residual
urinary volume after voiding, quality of life, laboratory values, and the
rate of reported adverse effects. There was no significant difference
between the saw palmetto and placebo groups in the change in AUASI scores
(mean difference, 0.04 point; 95 percent confidence interval, -0.93 to
1.01), maximal urinary flow rate (mean difference, 0.43 ml per minute; 95
percent confidence interval, -0.52 to 1.38), prostate size, residual volume
after voiding, quality of life, or serum prostate-specific antigen levels
during the one-year study. The incidence of side effects was similar in the
two groups. |